Retirement contributions aren't taxed, and they're often matched by employers," says Susan McGinnis, Men's Health's resident money manager. "So the"/cda/advicedetail.do?site=MensHealth&channel=guy.wisdom&category=career.money&conitem=9e2c79de59c82110VgnVCM20000012281eac____&expertId=9685f5b65fa53010VgnVCM100000cfe793cd____">investment." The last time the stock market returned 50 percent was in 1933, after which it was still two-thirds lower than its peak 4 years before.

Where the average guy most likely puts his extra cash instead: His savings account

The annual interest it gets there: 0.55 percent

How much more he'd earn from an online bank: 427 percent

Percentage of guys who researched their last loan on the Internet: 60

Percentage who purchased it there: 7

Free Money Online

If you don't trust online lenders, get over it. Like, right now. "There's a lot of waste and inefficiency in the lending business," says Chris Larsen, CEO of E-Loan, an Internet lender that funds $6 billion in loans each year. "If you're working through a mortgage broker or loan officer, you're paying his salary."

Companies like E-Loan and E-Trade eliminate the middleman and his commissions, and thus are able to offer rates that bricks-and-mortar lenders can't touch. Plus, approvals come in minutes, not weeks. In general, you'll save up to three-quarters of a point on mortgages and home-equity loans, and up to 5 points on car loans. This works out to a few hundred dollars a month.

According to Larsen, consumers have two concerns about purchasing loans online. First, some would rather go with a company with a longer track record. What they don't realize is that they will be. Most online lenders don't service their own loans--they sell them off to companies like Countrywide and Citibank. Second, consumers are concerned about online security, which is a nonissue as long as you enter your information at a "secure" site--designated by the "https" prefix. "Sit down with a loan officer at a bank and he'll put all your information into a computer anyway," says Larsen. "The difference here is that you're at home doing it yourself. It's quicker, and you'll save thousands."

Where the Average Guy Puts his Money

Other Than Retirement, What The Average Guy Is Saving For:

1. House, 26 percent

2. Whatever, 25 percent

3. New car, 15 percent

4. Child's education, 6 percent

5. Vacation, 5 percent

Percentage of guys who hide money in the house: 26 <* />

Where they put it:

1. In a safe, 34 percent

2. In a drawer, 17 percent

3. Under a mattress, 5 percent

4. In the fridge, 3 percent

5. In a wall, 1 percent

Most creative place the average guy hides money: Under the bag in the trash can

Honorable mention: In a book no one would ever read

How much the average guy would invest in himself:

1. For genius-level intelligence, $42,470

2. For 6 inches in height, $20,546 3.

For movie-star good looks, $17,609 4.

For a bigger penis, $12,432 5.

For rock-hard abs, $5,222

Why The First Two Would Be Great Investments

The link between high intelligence and high income has long been established. And a new study by researchers at the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina found that taller people are paid better--$800 an inch per year, in fact. Not likely to grow this year?

Then appear taller, says Marc Salem, Men's Health's mental manipulator--that is, stand when your boss is sitting (especially when you're talking); wear a long, thin, pointy tie that falls below your belt line; and raise your office chair when you have guests. Also, the more of your neck people see, the taller you'll seem, so wear low-collared shirts. As for the other "investments," well, what price vanity?

Chances the average guy owns at least one stock: 15 percent

Chances he owns a stock if he makes more than $100,000 a year: 40 percent

Percentage of men who think they're better at investing than women are: 47

Percentage of women who disagree: 74

Percentage of men who don't know their mortgage rate: 11

Percentage who think health care is overpriced: 35

Percentage who don't have health insurance: 18

Health Care, Made Profitable (for You)

You've probably never heard of a health spending account, but it promises to be the most radical change in health insurance since the HMO. Only 1 percent of employers offer it now, but a quarter will by 2010.

The appeal is simple: Your company puts $1,000 aside for your health care each year. If you don't use it all, you keep what's left. There's a deductible of $3,000 to $5,000--you're covered for anything beyond the deductible, but if you spend more than $1,000 and less than the deductible, you're responsible for the difference. A roll of the dice, sure, but the odds are good: According to a study in the journal Health Affairs, the average guy during the average year would bank $600.

There's one major drawback: You essentially act as your own insurance company, settling charges for everything from office visits to laboratory work. Savvy consumers can use this independence to their advantage, but it's also a royal pain. The best advice for those who want to enter this brave new world? "Clear out a file drawer and get ready," says Brad Holmes, a research director at Forrester Research.

<* />Amount of life insurance the average guy has: $143,000 <* />

Amount he really needs: $600,000 <* />

Chances he's "clueless" about how to buy life insurance: 27

The Life-Insurance Survival Guide

Unless someone--wife, child, parent --is financially dependent on you right now, you don't need life insurance. Plan to have kids someday? Fine, buy it when you have them, says David F. Woods, president of the LIFE Foundation, a nonprofit organization that educates the public about health and life insurance. Okay, you need it--what now?

Ask yourself two questions, says Woods: (1) How much do I need? and (2) What kind should I buy? The first question can be slippery, because it's tough to predict how lavish a life you'll lead in 20 years--you may rent a one-bedroom apartment now, but you could very well have a $500,000 mortgage by then. "Many financial advisors recommend five to seven times your annual salary," says Woods. "But to protect yourself as your income and expenses go up, you'll want a benefit that's 10 to 20 times your current salary."

As for the second question, there are two types: term and permanent. Term insurance has an expiration date; you'll pay, say, a few hundred dollars annually for a 20-year policy. After that, the policy lapses. Permanent insurance, such as whole or universal life, comes with a guaranteed death benefit and the ability to accumulate cash value (much like a retirement plan). For these two reasons, it costs roughly 10 times more than term insurance. Start with term, Woods says. If you invest wisely in your retirement plan, you'll probably be able to let your insurance lapse when you reach your 50s. "Review your needs every couple of years," he adds. "If your nest egg isn't growing as fast as you'd hoped, you can start converting term insurance to permanent at any time."

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